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WELCOME TO WIKIMSK
The New Zealand Musculoskeletal Medicine Wiki
Nau mai, haere mai! This website is a learning resource that is primarily designed for Musculoskeletal Medicine training in New Zealand. It also aims to be useful for GPs, other doctors, and medical students. It is not written for patients but they are welcome to read the articles. Click on a body region on the skeleton or a portal below to get started.
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Category:Elbow and ForearmCategory:Elbow and ForearmCategory:Hand and WristCategory:Hand and WristCategory:Foot and AnkleCategory:Knee and LegCategory:Pelvis, Hip and ThighCategory:SpineCategory:ShoulderCategory:ShoulderCategory:Head and JawCategory:Chest WallCategory:Chest WallCategory:Abdominal WallCategory:Abdominal WallCategory:WidespreadPortal:Procedures
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Featured Wiki Article for 1 July 2025

Gait

Humans possess two primary gaits: walking and running. This article focuses on the walking gait, a complex, coordinated action requiring the seamless integration of sensory and motor functions throughout the neuromuscular and skeletal systems. A gait disturbance is defined as any deviation from a smooth, symmetrical, and efficient walking pattern. Such disturbances can affect the synchrony, fluency, and symmetry of movement. Identifying a gait disturbance is often a crucial step in diagnosing underlying pathologies, which can occur at any level of the neuraxis (central and peripheral nervous system) or within the musculoskeletal system itself. - Read More
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Featured Open Access Journal Article for 1 August 2025

Associations Between Sum Scores or Combinations of MRI Findings in the Lumbar Spine and Low Back Pain-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Dragsbæk et al. European Journal of Pain. July 2025

ABSTRACT - We identified 11,537 studies and included 49 with 37 different study populations. Twelve studies had low RoB. Thirty one studies investigated sum scores of one specific MRI finding. Ten out of 16 studies investigating disc degeneration, two out of three investigating herniation and seven out of 10 investigating endplate-related changes reported stronger associations between increasing sum scores and LBP. Additionally, seven of nine studies reported the same for disc degeneration and LBP-related disability. Sixteen studies investigated a sum score of different MRI findings. Eight of 11 studies reported stronger associations between increasing findings and LBP, and five of eight found the same for LBP-related disability.

EDITOR'S COMMENT - This research provides further strong evidence that counters the view that "there is no association between back pain and MRI changes." The biological component of low back pain is often ignored in discussions on the topic, which is due to ideology rather than scientific justification. This study also has implications on trying to pin down a single pain-generator. This is especially relevant in elderly with low back pain, where it is likely there are multiple pain generators in many individuals.

MRI sum scores low back pain SR - Dragsbaek 2025.pdf
Full Text- 345 KB (f)



I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

— The Hippocratic Oath: Modern Version, Lasagna 1964